sunset from behind the wire

Monday, July 11, 2016

On July 10, the Moldovan Defense Minister, Anatol Salaru, asked NATO to help withdraw Russian soldiers from the autonomous region east of the Dniester River, known as Transnistria.

"For 25 years, forces of the Russian Federation have been illegally based on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. We ask you to support our initiative to transform the mission in the Dniester region of the Republic of Moldova into a multinational civilian mission, as well as to withdraw the Russian army and its munitions in accordance with international obligations," he said.

Salaru thanked NATO for its help in raising the defense potential of the Moldovan army within the framework of the DCB (Defense Capacity Building) and gave assurances that the republic "aspires to become a reliable partner of the alliance". The Defense Ministry chief also invited NATO members to hold military training in Moldova.

Other officials in Chisinau have been making demands for the withdrawal of Russian forces and the transformation of the peacekeeping operation in the Dniester region into a civilian multinational mission, including President Nicolae Timofti. He confirmed that Russia assumed such obligations at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Istanbul Summit in 1999. Chisinau is also supported by Ukraine on this issue, having recently denounced the agreement with Moscow on supplying Russian troops in the Dniester region.

Although Moldova is not a NATO member, its leaders are trying to benefit from NATO’s anti-Russia resurgence to remove the 1,200-man Russian regiment in Transnistria. The Russian troop presence is a remnant and holdover from the Soviet Army that was based in Moldova in the1980s and in the early 1990s.

Transnistria declared independence from Moldova after a war of secession in 1992. Since then it has been self-governing. The armed intervention by the Russian 14th Guards Army in Moldova at that time was critical to Transnistria’s de facto secession. The Transnistrian region remains pro-Russia and uses many Soviet-era symbols and practices.

In 2014, Transnistria sent a delegation to Moscow to request recognition and support for secession from Moldova at the time Donetsk and Luhansk announced their secession from Ukraine. Russia denied their request

The Russians consider the soldiers to be peacekeepers. Moldova wants the Russians to withdraw and to be replaced by a civilian peacekeeping mission. Moldovan leaders judge that the Russian military presence encourages Transnistrian intransigence and prevents reunification. The status and future of the Russian regiment is a potential flashpoint between NATO and Russia.

I've discussed this issue on this blog before. This is merely an update.

When the North Koreans (Norks) are sad, the world weeps with them because everyone knows that the peace-loving people in the worker's paradise are engaged in a struggle to keep Dear Leader in place and calling the shots. With his superior intellect and the ceaseless toil of his progressive workers, the Norks will rise to a point where the entire world will see their Communist struggle as a light on the hill for all to emulate.

On July, 11, North Korea warned it will take "physical action" against South Korea and the United States over the allies' decision to deploy an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

“The Artillery Bureau of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) serves the following strong warning to the US and the south Korean puppet warmongers:

Firstly, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will take a physical counter-action to thoroughly control THAAD, aggression means of the US for world domination, from the moment its location and place have been confirmed in south Korea….”

“Secondly, the south Korean puppet forces' introduction of THAAD of the US master would precipitate their miserable self-destruction due to the merciless strike of the KPA….”

“We once again warn the enemies that it is the steadfast will of the KPA to make merciless retaliatory strikes to reduce south Korea to a sea in flames, debris once an order is issued.”

“Thirdly, our revolutionary armed forces will as always bolster up its might in every way on the forefront for safeguarding the peace and security not only on the Korean peninsula but also in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world….”

“The KPA will take ceaseless self-defensive steps to punish all injustice in the world threatening justice till the gangster-like US and other hostile forces are wiped out to the last man.”

The key language in the screed is “once and order is issued.” North Korea has many options for “physical counter-action”, ranging from direct fire attacks at installations or special forces operations. It has no target yet because the system is not installed and the order to destroy it has not yet been given, though no doubt planning has taken place.

Coming soon after the US announced sanctions against Kim Jong Un over human rights abuses, Kim and his cohorts must fear that an actual attack might follow the complete isolation of North Korea, economically, politically and militarily. But who really knows what goes on in the mind of the plump little dictator?

THAAD

The THAAD system performs better against more distant launch targets than those in North Korea. It is not a complete defense shield, but it threatens to neutralize the only weapons the North Koreans have for widening a potential conflict beyond the Peninsula. Moreover, whatever shortcomings the system might have at present, its deployment is a promise of continuing refinement and improvements that could enable it to defeat the entire North Korean missile force. The missiles are the only reasonably modern attack capability the North Koreans possess.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that in military planning Russia will take into account Seoul's decision to station the American THAAD system on its territory.

Retired Colonel General Ivashov, President of the Academy of Geopolitical Issues, said, "Russia's deployment of new attack weapons in the Far East can be possible measures of military response to the appearance of the American missile defense in South Korea. Thus, Kalibr missiles can be installed on Pacific Fleet ships and additional ground-based missile complexes can be deployed on Eastern Military District territory, including in the Kurils, but Japan should be warned about this.”

China slammed the decision by South Korea and the US to deploy the THAAD missile system on the Korean Peninsula as it may jeopardize the chances of bringing a lasting peace to the region.

China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that China is "strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes" the THAAD deployment in South Korea, as it is not conducive to achieving denuclearization on the peninsula and maintaining its peace and stability.

Experts said that China can impose economic sanctions against South Korea and consider joint counter moves with Russia in response to the deployment. Neither Russia nor China threatened to attack South Korea. Their opposition to THAAD is well known.

MEANWHILE, IN THE WORKER'S PARADISE

On Saturday, July, 9, the Norks test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast that ended in failure, according to the South Korean military.

"The SLBM was ejected from the submarine normally, but we estimate the flight was unsuccessful," the JCS said in a brief press release. The ballistic missile appears to have exploded at an altitude of some 10 kilometers after being fired from a submerged 2,000-ton Sinpo-class submarine, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo said on Sunday, the 10th, that the THAAD system will be capable of intercepting North Korea's SLBMs.

Dear Leader is sad. The fat little
dictator will no doubt execute a
few pawns to express his
displeasure.

This was the third successful ejection of a missile with an engine ignition. Seven months ago, after two years of effort, the North Koreans still were unable to eject a missile body. They have made progress, but sustained flight after ejection is still a challenge.

The timing of this launch suggests it was intended as an act of defiance in reaction to the human rights and other sanctions. Kim Jong Un takes personal interest in missile launches, and presumably failures.

Kim Jong Un (dear leader) has invested the country’s wealth almost exclusively in nuclear weapons and the missile forces. If the Allies field effective countermeasures, North Korea loses its only offensive edge.

Barack is dumb as a box of rocks but he's got a bright teleprompter, and an army of handlers who tell him what to say...come to think of it, so does Hillary. The handlers should have thought about the assassination of five police officers in Dallas more thoroughly.

Fortunately, I'm here to think about it for them -- because most of Barack's advisors are either black or are homosexuals. Or are black homosexuals, or part black homosexuals...whatever. None of them care much that police officers protecting black people at a black lives matters march where they chant about killing police officers, were killed by one of their own. And when you think about it, why would they?

I found it interesting that Barack mentioned the names of the two felons, killed by police officers, but not the names of the five Dallas Police Officers killed in the line of duty. Where are Barack's handlers?

A CLARIFICATION: I have been using the term "hood rat" to denote Afro-Americans of all genders living in inner cities. I was recently taken down a notch because of my lack of understanding of the term. A Hood Rat is a female who has sex with everyone in the "hood" or neighborhood; the term is linked to the culture of the American ghettos and to hip-hop culture. A hood rat is an often a woman with declining hygiene, who engages in sexual activity like a prostitute, but without charge and without being coerced. The offspring of same are handed off to grandma to be raised.

The term, "Hood Rat Shit", however, is generic. Urban Dictionary: The act of engaging in undesirable or unlawful activities such as stealing, smoking marijuana, and drinking forties on the street.

Practical Illustration:

The Afro-American youths damaging the truck in the background may or may not be genuine "hood rats", but they are engaging in typical "hood rat shit". (does this help to clarify things?)

The Memphis Police Department (left) shows great restraint for not using flame throwers to disperse the crowd, in my humble opinion. I realize that would be politically incorrect of the police to do because it would demonstrate insensitivity toward the needs and aspirations of members of the minority community who express their displeasure by looting, which in the white community is referred to as "theft".

Housekeeping

As of January 1, 2017 this blog began to receive anonymous posts. I try not to delete them, but if you want to be taken seriously here, you need to identify yourself, if only by some sort of cryptonym.

Welcome to Virtual Mirage

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the cat. "We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad," asked Alice?

"You must be," said the cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

Good Morning

Virtual Mirage - What's on the other side of the mirror? Ask Alice how deep the rabbit hole really goes.

This blog is an extension of MY JOURNEY because sometimes my journey needs more explanation, and sometimes there is more to be said than can be expressed on one ordinary blog.

Sometimes it's politics (very serious), sometimes I address the human condition with a dose of humor, and other times it may seem as if the track is headed in a unique direction. I can be a complicated guy at times.

There are a few things you'll find I consider:

* Absence of proof is not proof of absence.

* Sometimes the questions are complex but the answers are simple.

* Love is the only condition where the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

* Steers do not sign treaties with meat packers. (think on that)

* Taxes are NEVER levied for the benefit of the taxed.

* The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no victory possible in defense.

WHITE POWDER (Novel)

There is something intoxicating about a secret.

THE OLD WHORE (NOVEL)

In the peculiar culture of the Central Intelligence Agency, "old whores" are people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done, irrespective of the cost.

EXILES FROM EDEN (NOVEL)

Sparks fly as two star-crossed lovers meet. He runs toward trouble as she yearns for something missing. And it ends in a flight from and toward justice.

About Me

Today, I balance work and play as much as anyone can. All things remaining equal, play is more important. Life is short - it's important to make every day count for something, if only to yourself.
I'm a former tinker/tailor/soldier/sailor who has now decided that maybe it really wasn't all done for nothing.

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